Criticism of Pogačar's UAE team intensifies at the Tour de France: 'What happened yesterday was nonsense'

UAE Emirates-XRG controlled the breakaway group for much of Sunday’s ninth stage of the Tour de France. This drew criticism from some teams, such as Movistar. They had Pablo Castrillo in the early breakaway, and after the stage, he was also critical of the hard work put in by the team of yellow jersey wearer Tadej Pogacar.

Castrillo eventually fell behind on the final climb of the stage won by Mathieu van der Poel. “I don’t understand UAE Emirates-XRG’s decision; it makes no sense that they didn’t give the breakaway more space. But we have to accept it—that’s just how it went,” an exhausted Castrillo told AS at the finish line.

"It was a breakaway group that posed no threat; we had to push much harder than necessary, and in the end, that's why the four riders battling for the win were so exhausted," said the rider.

Team manager Rojas went a step further in his comments to the Spanish news agency EFE on the rest day. "I respect their decision and that of their team, but what happened yesterday was nonsense," said the former rider. "I didn't understand anything UAE did. I talk to 85 percent of the team managers, and they all feel the same way."

"Yesterday, there was still a 23-kilometer descent to the finish line from the final climb, so it was difficult for Pogačar to win. UAE could have sent a rider to the front to go for the stage win, but they didn’t. UAE can do whatever they want—that’s how it goes in cycling—but there are also unwritten rules that must be respected,” said the Spaniard.

"Everyone has their own opinion, but in my view, it harms the sport of cycling. I think it ultimately spoils part of the spectacle, because what makes cycling so beautiful is precisely the competition for different goals," Rojas continues.

Movistar's sports director also sees trouble on the horizon for the rest of the race. "The Tour is definitely going Pogačar's way, and his team is dominating the rest of the riders like we've never seen before."

"And it's not just that the Tour is decided—it could very well be that Pogacar wins the stage at Le Lioran, as well as the next mountain stage, the fifteenth (Plateau de Solaison), and the time trial, and the one at Alpe d'Huez...", he speculates.